Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill To Protect Drivers Fleeing A Riot

Republican Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma signed a bill on Wednesday that attempts to crack down on riots while providing protections to people who are trying to get away from a dangerous demonstration.

The bill, HB 1674, protects people who flee from a riot. It states, “A motor vehicle operator who unintentionally causes injury or death to an individual shall not be criminally or civilly liable for the injury or death” if the incident occurred when the person was trying to get away from a riot and there was “reasonable belief” that they had to flee the area in order to protect themselves from serious injury or death. The motor vehicle operator must have also “exercised due care at the time of the death or injury.”